Improvement in seal-locks



l. KINZER.

Seal-Lock.

No. 160,338A Patenxedmarchznam.

e www UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JACOB KINZER, OF PITTSBURG, PA., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, DAVID M. WATT, ROBERT PITCAIRN, AND JOHN J. TORLEY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEAL-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 160,338, dated March 2, 1875 application filed December 15, 1874.

CASE F. K

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JACOB KINZER, of Pittsburg, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in Seal-Locks, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description thereof,

- reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate like parts.

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved seal-lock with the locking-bolt in an unlocked position. Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof, partly in section, with the lockingbolt locked and sealed. Fig. 3 is a detached plan or face. view of the lock, showing the bolt ot' the upper lock-case and tumblers. Fig. 4 is an inside or rear face view cfa portion of the locking-bolt, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the plate and studs hereinafter described.

My present invention relates generally to that class of locks which include both a lock and a seal, and more particularly to a lock in which the locking devices and sealing devices are so combined with the locking-bolt that the bolt may be sealed while either locked or unlocked, but with the hasp fastened in either case.

The plate A carries at one end a lock-case, B, and at the other a seal-case, B'. Between these is the staple D', through which the bolt D passes, so as to fasten the hasp in the usual way. The hook d', or other recess on the end of the bolt D, enters a mortise, b, in the lockcase B, and is engaged by a catch, a, Fig. 3, which :is operated, in locking and unlocking, by a key, in the usual way, and preferably in connection with tuinblers a', the only essential requisite in this respect being that it should not be a spring-lock. The bolt D works through a mortise in the seal-case B', as represented in Figs. l and 2, in such way as to be properly guided. Just above it is a plate, c, which constitutes the bottom of a seal-seat, m. A cap-plate, b', with a suitable opening therein, is secured by screws or otherwise, so as to hold the seal n in place, except at its lower edge, where it is held by a shoulder, cl', on the bolt, as shown in Fig. 2. The seal is inserted through the opening closed by this shoulder before the shoulder is brought up to close it.

In order now to fasten the bolt and seal the fastening without locking the bolt, so that the bolt may be unfastened on breaking the seal, and without the necessary use of a key, I make a tubular case, I), in the seal-case B', and arrange therein a spring-catch, c, and on its stem arrange a spring, e', in such manner that the action of the spring will always be to Jforce the catch into engagement with the bolt D, and I so make it that the catch is not accessible except at its outer end, for the purpose of disengaging it from the bolt. I then make in the bolt D a hole, s, of' suitable size, and in suitable position to receive the head of the catch when the bolt is in position for locking. I also make in the plate e a hole, o', which, when the seal is in place, shall be covered by it, and which shall be opposite the end of the catch c, but preferably with the upper edge of the hole c' a little below the upper edge of the catch. Then, the seal heilig broken and removed, a pin or wire can be inserted in the hole c', the catch e pushed back so as to allow the bolt to drop partly down over the end of the catch, (the bolt being un locked,) and then, the wire or pin being withdrawn, the bolt can be drawn down out ofthe staple, the head of the catch sliding on the rib g, Fig. 4. Now, to keep the bolt D from coming entirely out, I make in its rear face one or more grooves, g' g', of the length which it is desired the bolt should move, and on the plate p, Figs. 2 and 5, raise a corresponding` number of studs, h h, so that they shall project into the grooves. Then, as the bolt falls or is drawn down, after passing out of the staple far enough to permit of the removal of the hasp, it will he stopped by the studs h h engaging the upper ends of the groove; but the construction of this stop device may be considerably varied.

The lock thus described is of especial value in cases where it is sometimes desired to send a car, either loaded or unloaded, to a station where no key is kept, or where it is inconvenient or undesirable to send a key, as in sendin g a short distance to a way-station of little importance in the way'of trade. By the use of the car-lock described the car-door can be locked and sealed as perfectly and securely as may be desired, or the bolt may be inserted in place with a seal, and so perfectly fastened that it cannot be opened without breaking the seal, (even while still unlockedg) or, if neither sealing nor locking is desired, the bolt may be fastened so as to hold the door shut while running empty. If a ear is loaded by a person who has no key, he may still fasten and seal it, and the locking may be done afterward by the proper employ, With or without re-eXamination.

JACOB KINZER.

Witnesses:

Umts. G. PAGE, J AMEs M. CHRISTY. 

